In Pictures: Swindon in the past
Swindon historian David Marchant has granted BBC Wiltshire access to his collection of photos of the town in years gone by. Above shows Cromwell Street in the town centre during the 1900s. It was demolished in 1969 to make way for the Brunel Plaza.
Her Majesty The Queen, and His Royal Highness Prince Phillip visited Swindon on 5th November 1971. They came to inaugurate the town's new Civic Centre, including the Wyvern Theatre. HRH is shown above making a speech in a very rainy Theatre Square.
Above shows the junction of Station Road and Bridge Street in the early 1970s. Note the long since demolished J Compton & Sons building. Comptons were, at one time, employers of the majority of the town's working women.
Stratton Park Halt railway station in the mid-1950s. The station situated in Stratton St Margaret in the town was finally closed in 1964.
The former ABC Cinema (Now the Savoy public house) and Rifleman's Hotel in Regent Street in 1954. Note the film showing at the cinema is The House Across the Lake which starred Alex Nicol and Hillary Brooke.
Regent Circus in the early 1900s. These days the new Central Library resides just to the left of the location of the picture, Cafe Ambience is situated where the old Post Office once stood, and Rudi's Bar now resides to the right.
A very busy Marlborough Road looking towards the High Street in Old Town, in the early 1900s. Note the Corn Exchange tower in the top right of the photo.
View from Wellington Street, of Swindon station as it stood in the 1960s.
A 1930s view from the top of Victoria Road looking down.
The lake, which was once the centrepiece of the park inside the Town Gardens by the Westlecot Road entrance.
Commercial Road in the early 1900s.
The famous Swindon canal in the 1900s, running at the back of William Street. For further historic Swindon photos visit www.bbc.co.uk/wiltshire/history/photos.
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